August 18th, 2025
By the number of invitations you may have received, it’s easy to see that summer is a popular time for weddings. If you have clients getting married this summer, there are tax considerations you should inform them of that many taxpayers may not know about.
In this article, we’ll discuss some tax-related considerations of getting married, including potential tax-deductible expenses, filing status, along with name and address changes.
When clients select a wedding venue, the last thing they likely consider is the possible tax deductions. Nonetheless, some wedding venues are charitable organizations, and donations made to them are considered tax-deductible. If taxpayers donate to the venue, they may be eligible for an itemized deduction for their donation. Clients should be aware that fees for services or goods are not tax-deductible, but donations in excess of the fair market value (FMV) of the benefit received are.
Charitable organizations associated with weddings can include:
Only donations made to organizations that the IRS recognizes as 501(c)(3) status are eligible for itemized deductions. If you have clients wondering if their wedding venue is eligible to receive tax-deductible donations, the IRS has a search tool on its website you can share with them to verify the organization’s status. The following information is helpful to have on hand when searching:
Point out to taxpayers getting married in religious venues that their donation is likely tax-deductible even though the organization may not appear in the IRS’s database.
As clients prepare and plan for their big day, they may purchase decorations, like flowers, candles, signage, or attire that they may decide to give away later. The deductible amount for these types of items is the fair market value of the property on the date of contribution. Be sure to warn clients that simply giving their wedding decorations or leftover food directly to people is not considered a tax-deductible donation. They must donate to eligible organizations.
Taxpayers who donate property with a FMV greater than $500 must file Form 8283, Noncash Charitable Contributions, to report information about their donated property.
Sharing planning tips for tax-related wedding expenses is an easy way to add value to your clients. Tax practitioners can include a section in a newsletter or blog post about weddings to share with clients. Some helpful tips to share include:
As with any charitable contributions reported on a tax return, it’s important to remind clients that they must maintain receipts to substantiate their wedding-related donations. Depending on the type of venue, the organization may provide a letter or other documentation reporting the donation. For religious venues that don’t provide documentation, encourage taxpayers to keep copies of canceled checks or bank statements as proof.
When clients maintain accurate records, not only does it make your job easier, but it also satisfies the requirements to claim the deduction. You may consider offering clients the option to store their receipts in your secure document portal for easy organization.
In many situations, filing a joint tax return is the better option for married taxpayers. However, for some couples, an analysis between MFJ and MFS may be necessary, or the taxpayers may request to file separately, even if the MFJ option is more advantageous.
Some advantages of filing MFJ vs. MFS include:
Tax practitioners should also proactively communicate with taxpayers who are getting married this summer to take the necessary action regarding changes to their last names and addresses.
Inform clients that if they plan to change their last name, they must update their records with the Social Security Administration (SSA), as the name reported on their income tax return needs to match the name on file with the SSA.
Additionally, taxpayers who move after they are married need to update their address with the IRS. They can do this by either reporting their new address on their most recent tax return or filing Form 8822, Change of Address, with the IRS.
Planning a wedding can be stressful, and many taxpayers may overlook the potential tax benefits that come with it. By informing taxpayers about the tax benefits of wedding expenses and other considerations, you can easily add value to your clients.
By Ashley Akin, CPA
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Disclaimer: The information referenced in Tax School’s blog is accurate at the date of publication. You may contact taxschool@illinois.edu if you have more up-to-date, supported information and we will create an addendum.
University of Illinois Tax School is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information in this site is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information. This blog and the information contained herein does not constitute tax client advice.
